Greece: metro workers and govt clash on 7th day of strike

Spokesman to Athens public transport staff, must respect law

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JANUARY 23 - The face-off between the Greek
government and the workers of the Athens underground has grown
fierce, with the latter striking for the seventh day in a row.
In speaking on the radio station Vima 99.5, government spokesman
Simos Kedikoglou urged the ''protagonists'' of the strikes to
comply with the judiciary's decisions by tomorrow or face the
legal consequences of not doing so.
''The disruptions inflicted on citizens and the resulting
economic upset in the nation's capital,'' Kedikoglou
said,''cannot continue. Public transport must resume its normal
schedule immediately. Those responsible for this unacceptable
situation must comply with the decisions of the judiciary or
they will be made to face the legal consequences.''
Today the management of Stasy (the rail transport company)issued
a statement urging its workers ''to comply with the court's
decision by returning to work and providing citizens with
necessary services.'' The Athens Metro workers have also
released a statement, reminding the company and the
Infrastructure Ministry that over the past few years they have
suffered a sharp reduction in personnel and salary cuts and
accusing them of wanting to abolish rights gained over the
years, such as ''the right to go on strike and collective labour
contracts'', and of providing the media with incorrect
information in order to undermine their struggle. (ANSAmed).